Page 28 of Four for a Boy

“That’s brilliant, Chad.”

“Yes, I think I’ve turned a corner. These sessions have helped, but I’m starting to think they’re not necessary anymore.”

Keeley eyed him. “Is that so?”

“Yeah—”

“You say that every time you’re here, and every time you’re here you say you’regood, but you dig your nails into the arms of the chair and sit tensely for the full forty-five minutes, and then you leave and immediately go to the reception area to book your next visit. Maybe, rather than trying to convince me you’re fine, you try telling me the truth. You might find it helps.”

Chad slumped, turning away.

“Tell me what’s bothering you?”

He drummed his fingers against his knee.

A patient smile lifted Keeley’s lips. “How can I help if you won’t open up to me?”

“You want to help me?”

“Of course I do.”

“I feel like…” Chad bit his lip, letting his words hang. Keeley didn’t push, she waited, watching him with kind eyes. “I’m going to disappoint someone.” He took a deep breath. “They want me to do something, but I don’t want to.”

“Have you told them?”

“I wanted to, but they looked so happy and now,” Chad shook his head, “I’m terrified I’ll disappoint them.”

“You’re putting their wants before your own.”

Chad chewed on his lip. “We found a balance. A compromise and I thought we were happy. I thought it was enough, but it looks like it’s not, and I don’t know what to do. There’s been a…”

“Miscommunication?”

He nodded.

“What do you think your options are?”

“I either tell them no and risk their disappointment and have that hanging over us, or I go along with what they want even though I don’t want to.”

“You should never have to go along with someone else’s wants. You should never feel youhaveto.”

“But I could lose them.”

“Do you really think that?”

“I don’t know … I don’t know what will happen.”

Chad touched his ear.

He could hear Romeo’s cheerful whistling, and when he closed his eyes he saw his pleased smile. When he stroked his hand down to his neck he felt Romeo’s desperate kisses.

“Fuck.” Chad mumbled, lowering his hand.

“You need to talk to them and tell them honestly, whatever this request is, you feel uncomfortable about it.”

“And if they don’t understand?”

“You have to question whether the relationship between you is healthy.”

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